NYT: Upgrade to Air Traffic System Runs Into Trouble

[DeepModem Mom]

Upgrade to Air Traffic System Runs Into Trouble
By MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: April 9, 2006

WASHINGTON, April 8 — A vast program to replace the voice and data lines that links the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system has caused at least three major failures in the system recently, resulting in scores of airliners being grounded, government officials say.

And the replacement program is so far behind schedule that the savings it was supposed to achieve are disappearing, the officials say.

The contract to replace the system was issued in 2002, awarded to the Harris Corporation, was supposed to be completed by now, but the scheduled was extended in December, 2005. Marion C. Blakey, the administrator of the F.A.A., acknowledged in a recent interview that it would be "a climb" to stick to the revised schedule, which calls for completion in December 2007. And the initial estimate that the new system could save $800 million over 10 years has been revised, with savings now estimated at $600 million over 15 years.

"The projected savings are diminishing as we speak," Todd J. Zinser, the acting inspector general of the Transportation Department, of which the F.A.A. is a part, said at a hearing last month. One reason is that the F.A.A. is paying for costly older systems for a longer period than originally planned. Mr. Zinser said that the new system, called the F.A.A. Telecommunications Infrastructure, or F.T.I., was "a high-risk program" that was unlikely to be done by the end of next year....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/us/09cnd-control.html?hp&ex=1144641600&en=014b322f3245667a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Tempest]

1. It seems this administration can't get anything right

Another failure from the miserable failure.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. I post so many of these articles. They can only destroy --

it seems. Not govern, not protect, not preserve, not serve.

[Aviation Pro]

3. Don't blame the administration for this....

...the problem has been going on since the inception of the Operational Evolution Plan which predates the Bushit years. The real problem here is procurement and the lack of funding due to a loss of revenue (that's yer $99 roundtrip tickets talking there). The birthplace of this fiasco was the stupid decision to deregulate in 1978.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Sounds like you're a real "aviation pro" -- thanks! nt

[Tempest]

8. Read the article

The upgrades started in 2002.

So apparently the inception does not predate Bush.

You're throwing in the kitchen sink just to see what sticks.

[Aviation Pro]

10. Here's the web site for the OEP...

...do your research.

http://www.faa.gov/programs/oep/index.htm

[Tempest]

12. The article is about the F.T.I. upgrade

The upgrade was started in 2002.

Your cite has nothing to do with the F.T.I. upgrade, nor does a search of the site bring up any information on it.

Try again.

[Aviation Pro]

13. Tempest....

...I am deeply involved in the aviation industry. I'm truly sorry that you are asking for "proof" the way a Freeper would ask for it. Let's call a truce and I'll continue working with the folks who actually have put more than a decade into this effort and you can hold on to your own beliefs. (Here's a hint, check the previous versions of the OEP).

[FloridaPat]

5. The ATC system has always been like this. Probably always will.

[goforit]

6. Geee... makes me want to jump on a plane and fly to Kalamazoo.

[wakeme2008]

7. FAA always has failures

A 1997 book



Has one section of the then software upgrade failure at the FAA..

Good book by the way...

[hedgehog]

9. This wouldn't have anything to do with the systems the air traffic

controllers wanted replaced back around 1980 would it? People forget that that is one of the issues they went out on strike over before Reagan broke the union.

[lovuian]

11. Its probably being done by HB1 Visa and outsourced

resources

:rofl: